The NHL Board of Governors addressed realignment more quickly than expected on Monday, going to a four-conference format beginning next season.

The Ducks will be in an 8-team conference, yet to be named, with the Kings, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Phoenix and Colorado.

The appeal of this, to some, is the chance to play every other team in the NHL at least once each at home and on the road. This might add travel costs, of course, but it preserves some conference rivalries. The Ducks will play some teams in their own conference six times, some others five times, and that will be rotated year to year.

Also, four teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The first place team will meet the fourth place team, the second place team will play the third. Eventually the semifinals will include one team from each conference.

This means, theoretically, that the Ducks will have a better chance to finally play the Kings in the postseason.